May 01, 2014, 10:57PM

Melha Shrine clown "Scooter" watches the performances on opening night of the 60th Annual Melha Shrine Circus held at the Eastern States Coliseum on Thursday, May 1, 2014. (DAVID MOLNAR / THE REPUBLICAN)

May 01, 2014, 10:57PM

High up in the rafters of the Eastern States Coliseum the aerial daredevils, The Winns perform opening night of the 60th Annual Melha Shrine Circus held at the Eastern States Coliseum on Thursday, May 1, 2014. (DAVID MOLNAR / THE REPUBLICAN)

May 01, 2014, 10:57PM

Johnny Rocket clowns around with the crowd during his performance on opening night of the 60th Annual Melha Shrine Circus held at the Eastern States Coliseum on Thursday, May 1, 2014. (DAVID MOLNAR / THE REPUBLICAN)

May 01, 2014, 10:57PM

The shadow of Hamid Circus Ringmaster Peter Sturgis produced by a spotlight during opening night of the 60th Annual Melha Shrine Circus held at the Eastern States Coliseum on Thursday, May 1, 2014. (DAVID MOLNAR / THE REPUBLICAN)

May 01, 2014, 10:57PM

A caged tiger, one of the Hamid Circus Performing Tigers, is wheeled in by stage hands prior to opening night of the 60th Annual Melha Shrine Circus held at the Eastern States Coliseum on Thursday, May 1, 2014. (DAVID MOLNAR / THE REPUBLICAN)

May 01, 2014, 10:57PM

A family, lit from the glow of their battery-operated lazer sword, watches the performances on opening night of the 60th Annual Melha Shrine Circus held at the Eastern States Coliseum on Thursday, May 1, 2014. (DAVID MOLNAR / THE REPUBLICAN)

May 01, 2014, 10:57PM

The Melha Shrine Circus elephant waits patiently prior to opening night of the 60th Annual Melha Shrine Circus held at the Eastern States Coliseum on Thursday, May 1, 2014. (DAVID MOLNAR / THE REPUBLICAN)

May 01, 2014, 10:57PM

The Melha Shrine Circus clown Mac-A-Doo signs the t-shirt of little fan Tandin Ritter of Belchertown prior to opening night of the 60th Annual Melha Shrine Circus held at the Eastern States Coliseum on Thursday, May 1, 2014. (DAVID MOLNAR / THE REPUBLICAN)

May 01, 2014, 10:57PM

The Melha Shrine Circus clown does a bit of texting prior to his performance on opening night of the 60th Annual Melha Shrine Circus held at the Eastern States Coliseum on Thursday, May 1, 2014. (DAVID MOLNAR / THE REPUBLICAN)

May 01, 2014, 10:57PM

The Melha Shrine Circus clown Spark Plug gets mobbed by children to sign his autograph in the program prior to opening night of the 60th Annual Melha Shrine Circus held at the Eastern States Coliseum on Thursday, May 1, 2014. (DAVID MOLNAR / THE REPUBLICAN)